Ah, the age old dilemma.
I’d prefer a middle ground between the two, which is precisely what most of my favorite shows are made up of, but if I had to choose, I’d pick longer jams.
Sure, with taking risks sometimes means playing uninspired poop, but it also has the potential to trump even the tightest “It’s Ice,” or whatever composition you prefer.
there can and should be a nice balance, but a show without a couple nice (usually pretty long, but doesn’t have to be) and interesting jams usually isn’t very memorable.
^That’s my feeling too. I think my Hampton’s 3rd night epitomizes that philosohpy
How about both? More long jams and short songs and…hell, they should just play three sets every night.
but if you think about '97–>'04, pretty much every show has a few long jams
Unfortunately I’ve gotten to the point that I’m a jaded Phish Phan.
When I listen to their music I’m looking for risks and I’m looking for jams that are memorable.
As a result songs that have heavy composition with some room to improvise aren’t as interesting to me as songs with less to them and less constraint.
I.E. David Bowie is great jam song but if I have to choose between it and Tweezer I’ll take Tweezer everytime.
Sadly I have little patience for Phish’s ballads and I’ve never been a big fan of the 3-5 minute songs.
Ultimately, it’s all about how the set flows.
Granted the show at the Aladdin on 12/6/96 spoiled me and raised my expections way too high.
I voted for the 3rd option (Whatever they play is fine) since after 2004 I thought I would never see them Live again…
As some have said above: Balance is key
I voted for whatever, they’re playing.
But that being said, I like balance. Something along the lines of a first set with more (tightly played) songs, and a second set that is more experimental, jammed out, and exploritory.
JAMZSZSZ
EDIT: Seriously though, i love long jams and their short compositions, but if I had to choose it would be jams, just because yeah Its Ice kicks ass but if you hear it too many times it gets old. Alot of their older songs just have less room for change, because they were written perfectly. ;D
i went with option 3.
but yeah, balance and flow mang.
grow some kahunas and vote for jamz or compositions. third choice isn’t interesting.
I’m for jams as stated earlier.
There are song that I do without ever hearing again and most come from Billy Breathes or later albums.
I will refrain from saying what those songs are because if I mention them I’ll probably get them at Shoreline.
song>song>song>song>song etc. seems like a good balance of song and jam. most shows that have continuous sets that kind of focus around one theme or song that have some jams in them are pretty memorable
^totally… I’m all about the segues.
If I just spent 5 grand on droogz in the lots i better be hearing some god damn jams.
But seriously I could care less as long as they turn mike up.
PFLM?
how about it doesn’t matter as long as they have proper segues between songs? the recent hampton run was quite lacking in the segue department
Based on what ya’ll wrote, I guess I’m going against the grain. I voted for more songs. Since there are so many phish longs I love, the more songs I can hear, the better (IMO). Thats what I thought was great about Hampton, the songs just kept coming. I hope things stay close to what Tre said, that America needs to have a good time & phish wants to provide the fun. Although from that point of view, songs or jams are equally fun. More songs please with good jams.
lots of songs, yes. lots of jams, yes. most important is unpredictablility and element of surprise. that is secret of phish.